Three-quarters of Premier League fans are against VAR, according to FSA survey

A new survey from the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has revealed that more than three-quarters of Premier League fans want VAR removed from the game.

The survey, which included nearly 8,000 supporters from all 20 Premier League clubs, found that 75.7 percent of fans do not support the continued use of VAR in football. More than half of those surveyed attend over 15 home matches per season, making it one of the biggest fan studies on the issue.

The results also showed that frustration with VAR goes far beyond just controversial decisions. More than 91 percent of fans believe VAR has taken away the spontaneous joy of celebrating goals, while over 90 percent said it has made the matchday experience worse. More than 97 percent disagreed with the idea that VAR makes football more enjoyable to watch.

One of the biggest complaints from supporters remains the amount of time it takes for decisions to be made. Fewer than three percent of respondents said VAR decisions are reached within a reasonable timeframe, despite recent efforts to speed up the process. Many fans also believe the reasons behind VAR interventions are still not clearly communicated inside stadiums.

The survey found that supporters are also strongly against expanding VAR further. More than 85 percent expressed concern about the possibility of the system being used for more types of decisions, such as checking corners or second yellow cards. However, goal-line technology remains highly popular, with over 93 percent of fans supporting its continued use.

FSA Premier League network manager Thomas Concannon said the findings show that fans still have the same concerns they had when VAR was first introduced, especially the loss of spontaneity and the negative impact on the overall football experience.

Despite the survey results, the Premier League is still expected to keep VAR in place. League officials argue that the system has helped produce more correct decisions, with around 100 successful VAR overturns per season in recent years.